House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security in the wake of deadly attacks in Benue and other states.

In a motion by Mr Babatunde Kolawole (Ekiti – PDP) and Benue state caucus of the House led by member representing Guma/Makurdi federal constituency, Mr Dickson Tarkhighir, the house mandated an ad hoc committee to conduct a public hearing to hear from both sides and proffer a lasting solution.

While presenting the motion, Kolawole said scores of farmers have been killed in attacks, including women and children, a development that has brought a great sense of insecurity and distrust among ethnic groups, thus raising a spectre of instability in the country.

He also listed the possible outcomes of insecurity.

“That incessant attacks on farmers and farming communities will ultimately result in food shortages, artificial scarcity and hampering of the drive of the Federal Government to diversify the nation’s economy through agriculture,” he said.

Also speaking on behalf of the Benue caucus, Tarkighir called on the federal government to show commitment to the Benue State’s anti open-grazing law by compelling relevant security agencies to comply with the enforcement and implementation of the law.

“The federal government should direct security agencies to not only secure peace but also bring the culprits to book,” he said.

Earlier during the plenary, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, condemned the killings in Benue and some parts of the country, describing it as “senseless”.

PT